March 8, 2009
HE HAS DONE IT – IT IS FINISHED!!!
Have you watched the evening news lately? It’s pretty scary with the economy in the toilet, violence everywhere, poverty, disease – you name, we got it. It’s easy to get worried about what the future will bring for my children and grandchildren. But this week’s scripture selections remind me in Whose Hands my past, my future, and my present lies – and not only mine but my children and grandchildren’s. As you read notice the work of our faithful and loving God.
Genesis 17: I am God Almighty…I will confirm my covenant…I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you…
Psalm 22: “For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn— for he has done it.
Romans 5: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
So what is our response to this faithful and loving God who keeps His covenant to us and our descendants after us?
Genesis 17:1b – “walk before me and be blameless”
Psalm 22:23 – “You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel”
Romans 5:2-3 – “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings”
Mark 8:34 – “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”
God kept His promise to Abraham to give him a son and He has kept His promise to us to give us HIS SON!! When we look to the cross of Jesus Christ, His suffering, His death, His resurrection, we see that HE HAS DONE IT ALL – “IT IS FINISHED” (John 19:30)!!! With Jesus we can walk and be blameless in His sight, we can praise, honor, revere and rejoice in Him, even in our sufferings, and through His love and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him through our journey in this world and all the way to eternity.
“Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
Church Season –
Second Sunday in Lent
Week ending: MARCH 8, 2009
Monday – (Old Testament)
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
God is faithful and blesses Abraham despite his attempt at “helping God out” with Hagar (see Gen 16). How has God shown His faithfulness to you?
Tuesday – Psalm 22:15-16
Read Psalm 22 as Christ’s prayer on Calvary. God despised His Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross so He wouldn’t have to dispise us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Wednesday –(Epistle)
Romans 5:1-11
We see God’s glory on Mount Calvary and the cross brings us certainty that we will received His glory in eternity. In that hope we rejoice
Thursday – (Gospel)
Mark 8:27-38
Jesus asks: “Who do you say that I am?”
YOU ARE THE CHRIST – our salvation!
Friday – REFLECT on the Glory of God’s love in and through His Son Jesus Christ
Saturday – SHARE - where have you seen God’s faithfulness this past week?
Sunday – As you worship – Rejoice in Jesus!!
No comments:
Post a Comment